Research Projects

The development of clean, low-cost, and sustainable energy sources is crucial for meeting the energy demands of a growing population and increased industrialization. This funding will be used to build an ambitious cross-disciplinary research programme focusing on the rational design and development of cheap, stable, and highly efficient defect-tolerant photovoltaics. The project aims to develop new design rules for defect tolerance within chalcogenide perovskite (CP) family materials, focusing on the rational design of CPs as alternatives to hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites (HOIP). CPs are free of toxic lead, composed of earth-abundant elements, and have excellent thermal and chemical stability. However, their defect and interfacial properties remain poorly understood. The project aims to develop advanced experimental methods to gain a detailed understanding of the defect role, chemical structure at the surfaces and interfaces of CPs/buffer contacts (heterojunction), leading to a new class of high-performance and environmentally stable materials for use in solar devices. The project will pioneer the identification of defect-tolerant chalcogenide perovskites materials and their development as efficient single-junction PVs. India has pledged to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070, and this project will champion and accelerate India's development of lead-free defect-tolerant semiconductors as major contenders for efficient thin film PVs. The project will address innovative issues related to new defect-tolerant materials demonstrated in efficient and stable devices and processes transferable to industry.